Chain tightener



July 13,1926. 1,592,315

E. L. WALLACE CHAIN TIGHTENER Filed April 12, 1922 s Sheets-She et 1INVENTOR ATTORNEY Mi/MM.

E. L. WALLACE CHAIN TIGHTENER July 13, 1926. 1,592,315

Filed April 12, 1922- s Sheets- Sheet 2 INVENTOR g ofw/ilw ATTORNEY July13, 1926. 1,592,315

Q E. WALLACE CHAIN TIGHTENER Filed April 12, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet I}INVENTOR ATTORNE Patented July 13, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIICE.

EDWIN L. WALLACE, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR Tb THE SHREDDEDWHEAT COMPANY, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CHAIN TIGHTENER.

Figure 1 is a as applied.

Figure 2 is a detail end view of the gearing connections.

Figure 3 is a same.

The invention has relation to means for side view of the inventiontightening or taking out the slack from endless conveyor chains orbelts, thegobject being to provide-improved'means for auto-' seventyfeet in fact, and wherein there are twelve stretches, the conveyor chainbeing subjected to considerable temperature changes in the oveninclosure as compared with the temperature. of the chain in the aportion thereof outside of said inclosure,

and totemperature changes in the oven inclosure itself, rendering itnecessary to pro- VldB', some, automatic means for the purpose statedthat will be efiicient and reliable.

, shafts of said sprocket wheels have bearings and 6 are horizontaltracks in the framing wherein said boxes may have movement to regulatethe tension of the conveyor "chain, as will appear.

The journal boxes '5 at one end portion-of the oven are held stationaryunder the control of tension regulating screws 7, but at boxes 5 eengaged by longer tension regulating rews or rods 8 engagingperforations 9 of the framing and having-threaded thereon each a nut 10,a coiled spring 11 surrounding the rod and hearing at one end thereofagainst said nut and at the other end thereof against the framing at 12,

.the othlrfr far or rear end of the oven, the

whereby the box 5 has tension constantly detail plan view of the exertedthereon byithe spring 11 to take up slack in the conveyor chaln.

- The floating sprocket wheels 2 at the far end of the oven are drivenindividually by sprocket gearing 13, including wheels 14 upon transverseshafts 15, the latter in vertical series and having spur gear drivingconnections 16 also in vertical series, one series at each side, thedriving connections being in duplicate to insure a balanced action.

In the vertical series of spur gears 16, intermediate spur gears 16. areused in train between the spur gears 1.6 to properly transmit thedriving movement to the sprocket wheels being driven, i. e. in orderthat the several stretches of the'conveyor chain shall be given theproper direction of movement.

It will be observed that while by the arrangement above described eachdouble The equalizing action of the springs will be assisted by thedrive itself, since any lengthening of a double stretch of the conveyorchain by outward movement of a driven sprocket 2 will tend to slackenthe drive chain of the related gearing 13, whereupon the feedingmovementof the .sprocket 14 will be partially absorbed in feeding thedrive chain from the workingto the following stretch. Thus the speed ofthe driven sprocket will be diminished, while the pull upon thissprocket by the unafi'ected drive of the next higher sprocket in serieswill act to restore tension to the slackened spring 11.

The conveyor chain is shown as provided with means for insuring that thetrays shall" be maintained in true horizontal position while passingaround the sprocket wheels I,

at the ends of the several stretches, as disclosed in co-pendingapplicatiomS. No. 552,037 of E. P. \Vebster, for conveyor chain filedApr.'12, 1922.

I claim 1. The combination with an endless belt "having a plurality ofdouble stretches, of

means for automatically taking up the slack in the several stretches andfor driving the same adapted to equalize the amount of slack taken uptherein and to equalize the drive, and including a train of spur gearshaving separate chainand floating sprocket gear connection with eachdouble stretch.

2. The combination with an endless belt having a plurality of doublestretches, of means for slack in the several stretches and fordrivautomatically taking up the ing the same adapted to equalize theamount 10 of slack taken up therein and to equalize the drive; andincluding constantly acting spring tension devices and a train of s urgea rs having separate chain and floatln sprocket stretch. V

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDWIN L. WALLACE.

gear connection with each double 1

